2011/03/09 by J. W. Menzies, John W. Menzies, M. W. Feast +4
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Asymptotic giant branch #Carbon star #Dwarf galaxy #Dwarf spheroidal galaxy #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Galaxy #Globular cluster #Interacting galaxy #Local Group #Photometry (optics) #Physics #Red-giant branch #Stars #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph.CO
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18649.x
accepted for publication in MNRAS
arxiv created 2011/03/09 · openalex publication_date 2011/06/02 · arxiv updated 2015/05/27 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
JHKS photometry is presented for a 35 arcmin2 field centred on the Sculptor dwarf spheroidal galaxy. With the aid of published kinematic data definite galaxy members are identified and the width in J−K of the colour–magnitude diagram is shown to be consistent with an old population of stars with a large range in metal abundance. We identify two Asymptotic Giant Branch variables, both carbon Miras, with periods of 189 and 554 d, respectively, and discuss their ages, metallicities and mass-loss as well as their positions in the Mira period–luminosity diagram. There is evidence for a general period–age relation for Local Group Miras. The mass-loss rate for the 554-d variable, MAG29, appears to be consistent with that found for Miras of comparable period in other Local Group galaxies.